Rivers Beat Rangers To Super4 Trophy
By Andah John with agency report
Guy Kuemian’s 5th minute strike in the 1-0 victory over Wikki Tourists was all Rivers United needed to be crowned winners of the 2016 NPFL Super4 in Enugu on Sunday.
The Port Harcourt side emerged winners as Rangers could only manage a 1-1 draw with bottom-placed Ifeanyiubah in the day’s other game.
Rivers, who had lost 2-0 to the Flying Antelopes in their opening game, recovered with back-to-back wins to finish tops with six points, while the NPFL champions were one point short after two subsequent draws. Wikki Tourists ended the mini tourney in third spot with four points, while Ifeanyiubah finished the four-team tournament at the bottom with a point.
In the meantime, Rangers manager Imama Amapakabo has pleaded with angry club supporters over his team’s failure to win the Super4 tournament.
“It is a blessing in disguise that we did not win so that we know we still have a lot to work on.
“However, I would like to plead with our teeming fans to bear with us. At times football goes this way.
“But I would assure them a sharpened and battle ready Rangers in the new 2016/2017 NPFL season,’’ Amapakabo assured.
Egume pleased with trophy
Meanwhile, Rivers manager Stanley Eguma attributed the club’s victory to hard work.
“After our first match, where Rangers beat us 2 – 0; we decided to put more effort not to be last on the log table.
“We trained hard and prayed so that we will not go back to Port Harcourt with shame.
“However, as God will have it, Rangers FC was held to a 1 – 1 draw by FC IfeanyiUbah, which gave us this trophy,’’ Eguma said.
Fans’ reaction
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some Rangers fans wanted to beat up some players of the side if not for intervention of security personnel at the stadium.
They said it was unthinkable for the league champions to draw with a side (Ifeanyiubah) that had lost to the others in the tournament.
